Grand marshal, deputy grand marshal named for Newark’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

NEWARK, NJ — St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Inc., organizers of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day parade, the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey, announced on Friday, March 4, that John J. Farmer, Jr., university professor, Justice Alan B. Handler scholar and special counsel to the president of Rutgers School of Law-Newark, is the grand marshal and Barbara A. Lyons, board member of the Irish American Cultural Institute, is the deputy grand marshal to lead the parade along the emerald line in its 81st year.

The parade will be Friday, March 11. Reviewing stand ceremonies will begin promptly at noon, followed by the official parade kick-off at 1 p.m. The parade will commence on Mulberry Street at the Prudential Center, making its way past the Gateway Complex, to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, passing Military Park on Center Street, to Central Avenue leading up to St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral and ending in front of the Newark Museum and Washington Park.

“We are honored to have John Farmer and Barbara Lyons lead the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade in its 81st year as both have distinguished themselves within their professions and respective communities,” said Michael D. Byrne, general chairman, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Inc. “Newark was the epicenter of Irish-American life in New Jersey. A high concentration of Irish-American immigrants first settled in Newark. As they continued to spread out throughout the state, parades were established in other areas. But Newark is the original and it is still the best. We know that Irish-Americans from across New Jersey will come out to support and celebrate this important tradition.”

Farmer began his career as a law clerk to associate Justice Alan B. Handler of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He then worked for two years as a litigation associate before joining the Office of the U.S. Attorney in Newark, where he prosecuted crimes ranging from kidnapping and arms dealing to bank fraud. In 1993, he received the U.S. Attorney General’s Special Achievement Award for Sustained Performance. Farmer became dean of Rutgers School of Law-Newark in July 2009. His book, “The Ground Truth,” was named a Notable Book of 2009 by the New York Times Book Review. He was named General Counsel of the Year in 2014 by NJBIZ, was the 2012 recipient of the William J. Brennan Award from the Association of the Federal Bar and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Marshall Fund for Educational Opportunity. He also received the Career Leadership Award from New Jersey Leads and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Law Journal in 2015. Professor Farmer is president of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and a former member of the New Jersey Governor’s Ethics Advisory Board. His Irish ancestors immigrated to America in the 1920s from counties Armagh, Kerry and Mayo. He currently resides in Flemington with his wife, Beth.

Lyons’ career path began as an independent insurance broker, but was interrupted in 1960 when she became involved in politics in Orange. She was the chairwoman of the Orange Young Democrats for several years, Young Democrats State Committeewoman, a member of the Orange County Committee and Secretary to the Orange Democratic Party. After working as a volunteer for the first Assembly campaign of Frank “Pat” Dodd, Lyons embarked on an 18-year career with Dodd as his general “factotum” — administrator of his various business interests, legislative aide and campaign co-chairwoman. Following Dodd’s retirement, she entered the marketing field, having positions in New Jersey, North Carolina and Illinois. While in Charlotte, N.C., Lyons served as chairwoman for her parish Habitat for Humanity group and currently serves on the Soup Kitchen committee at St. Joseph’s Church in West Orange. She has been a member of Irish-American Cultural Institute for more than 40 years and serves on the board of directors as treasurer, president of the North Jersey Chapter and chairwoman of the annual Washington’s St. Patrick’s Day Ball. She is a member and treasurer of the Women of Irish Heritage, recording secretary for the Giblin Association and as sergeant-at-arms for the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Inc. Now retired, Lyons works part-time as a legislative aide to Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin. She currently resides in West Orange.

Additionally, the 81st Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade is dedicated to James P. “The Skipper” Hamilton. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Skipper was raised near the Ringsend section of Dublin in Grand Canal Dock, south of the River Liffey. Skipper had his first job at the age of 16, cutting turf on the bogs of Wicklow before heading off to England for better work. He later enlisted with the British Army as a member of the Irish Guards under the Royal Irish Regiment. On his return to Ireland, Skipper enlisted with the Irish Army, where he served from 1952 to 1958 and went on to become a drill instructor for the military police and its motorcycle brigade. During his time with the Army, he took an interest in the sport of boxing and went on to become an All-Ireland Military Boxing Champ. In February 1958, Skipper left his wife and three children in Ireland and immigrated to America. He found a job and began saving so he could send for his family back in Ireland. In December 1958, Skipper was reunited with them in America and made a home in Newark before the arrival of three more children. In 1973, Skipper and his family moved to Kearny, where they lived for many years before finally settling in Belleville. Skipper finished his career in steelwork and retired from Wilbur B. Driver after 25 years of service. In 1968, he made his debut at McGovern’s Tavern in Newark, where he served as a bartender with the direction of William “Bill” Scully. Skipper is remembered for his strength of character; quick wit, Irish pride and his ability to make people laugh. In 2003, Skipper retired from McGovern’s after 35 years behind the bar and, sadly, passed away at the age of 86, following a courageous battle with cancer. He supported various Irish associations over the years, the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the annual Easter march. In 2008, he was honored by the Giblin Association and received a commendation from the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders for being an outstanding example of the highest ideals of the Irish-American community.

The parade will also be dedicated to the Centennial of the 1916 Easter Rising — one of the most significant events in Irish history. A breakfast will be given for students of the archdiocese of Newark on Parade Day, with a brief presentation on the history of the 1916 Rising. Additionally, a cross bearing the names of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising will be carried in the parade.

  St. Patrick’s Day